The Seattle Seahawks are going to have to make some movies in the next couple of weeks. Unofficial free agency begins on March 10, and the new league year begins on March 12. If the team has not made any moves before March 10, then something has gone very wrong, and the team will have no money to spend.
We might learn a lot this week during the NFL Combine as well. This is a good opportunity for teams to talk to other team's executives and make the bones of any potential trade. Or, in the case of some potential Seahawks cap casualties, for general manager John Schneider to see how welcome those players might be in free agency.
The salary cap is expected to be anywhere between $277 million and $281 million this offseason, but the Seahawks would still be over that by around $10 million unless players are released or contracts are restructured. Seattle has options, however. Here are five ways the team can create a quick $74 million. (All the numbers below are based on Over the Cap's calculations.)
5 moves the Seahawks can make to save $74 million in cap space
1. Extend Geno Smith - $23,796,000 in cap savings
Some 12s might not like this option, but there is no player available this offseason in free agency who would be a guarantee to be an upgrade over Smith. Unlike free agent quarterback Sam Darnold, Smith has not had the luxury of playing under the kind of offensive direction that Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell provides. Darnold also had receiver Justin Jefferson, who is better than any Seattle receiver.
The point is that Smith has accomplished what he has over the last three years (at times, he has led the league in completion percentage, fourth quarter comebacks, and the NFC in touchdown passes, and has made two Pro Bowls) with a rotating group of offensive coordinators and a bad offensive line. With a better team around him, Smith would get his team to the playoffs (which he did in 2022).
The easy choice is to extend Smith for a couple of years while Seattle takes a good look at drafting a quarterback in 2026 or 2027. The Seahawks could then think about releasing Smith or let the young quarterback keep sitting behind the veteran while he learns.
2. Release Tyler Lockett - $17 million in cap savings
Lockett's production has diminished so much that he is now no better than Seattle's WR3. He will be 33 years old during the 2025 season, and that is fairly ancient for a smaller receiver who relies on quickness to get open. He is still a pristine route-runner, but he has lost speed and he doesn't have the strength to fight off tackles.
In fact, Lockett has been making more and more "business decisions" where he gives himself up after catching the ball. This has turned him more into a possession receiver, but Seattle needs more. That kind of role could be filled by Jake Bobo.
Lockett is a terrific person with other options to make money than playing football. He could simply choose to retire. If he does do that, he needs to announce the decision prior to the second full week of March.
3. Release Noah Fant - $8,910,000 in savings
Fant signed an extension last offseason for two years. The problem is that he simply hasn't been productive enough to have a cap hit of $13,410,000. He has the potential to be a good receiver with his size and speed, but so far, Seattle has not found a way to find the best use for him. In the last two seasons, he has one combined touchdown catch.
Fant did have 16 more catches in 2024 than in 2023, but he only had 86 more receiving yards. Is it that he cannot truly get open down the field and is more of an option on dump-down passes? Or can he use his speed to beat linebackers and have a number of explosive plays? We might learn if he can while Fant is playing with a different team in 2025.
4. Extend DK Metcalf - $13,464,377 in cap savings
There has been a lot of speculation that DK Metcalf could be traded this offseason. If that does happen, it will likely be before the 2025 NFL draft. Before we get there, though, Seattle could sign Metcalf to an extension and create cap room for free agency.
There is no real reason to move on from Metcalf, especially if the team releases Lockett. Keeping a top duo of Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba is going to be a great thing for new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. Seattle could then draft Lockett's replacement in late April.
Also, working out a contract with Metcalf now is only going to help form the financial picture of the 2026 offseason well ahead of time. He might want $30 million or more a season. If the Seahawks don't give him that then some team likely will.
5. Release Dre'Mont Jones - $11,572,500 in cap savings
Besides releasing Lockett, moving on from Jones might be the next easiest thing. Nothing more than a slightly better version of Quinton Jefferson, Jones is a solid pro who is a good rotational piece for a team that has lots of rotational pieces. He certainly is not a transformative player, though he is paid like one.
The Seahawks will not recoup anything close to Jones's $26 million cap hit in 2025, but at least releasing him saves more than $10 million. That is too much to pass up for a cash-strapped team that can likely find a player who produces numbers similar to Jones at a fraction of the cost.